Uranium-tantalum-aluminum alloy



nited States This invention relates to a novel uranium containing alloy and more particularly is concerned with a new and useful ternary intermetallic compound of uranium-tantalum-aluminum.

The alloy of the present invention is suitable for use as a nuclear reactor fuel element composition. Its high utility in this area is based on the facts that (l) the component elements have a low thermal neutron cross-section; (2) the alloy has a melting point of above 800 C.; and, (3) the alloy is chemically less reactive than is aluminum uranium alloy. This ternary alloy therefore, because of the hereinbefore listed characteristics, is particularly suitable for use in those reactor applications in which uranium-aluminum binary alloys presently are used.

The novel alloy composition of the present invention is a ternary intermetallic compound corresponding to the formula UTa Al and comprises on a Weight basis about 20.4 percent uranium, about 31 percent tantalum and about 48.6 percent aluminum.

The compound is prepared by employing alloying, melting, casting and other foundry techniques as known to one skilled in the art. The following example will serve to illustrate a method which can be used to prepare the instant novel metallic composition but is not meant to be limiting.

atent Example An alloy of about 200 grams of aluminum and about 10 grams of uranium was prepared by melting the two components together at about 800 C. in a graphite crucible under an argon atmosphere. About 6 grams of tantalum then was added to the melt and the resulting mixture stirred at about 800 C. for about 4 hours. A solid, crystalline product settled out during this period. Elemental analysis indicated this material to be the novel intermetallic compound corresponding to the empirical formula UTa Al X-ray diffraction analysis of this product showed the product had the following lattice constants: a=10.330 A., b=10.330 A., 0:14.609 A. The cell volume was 1558.91. The calculated density was 4.967 grams/cc. There were four molecules per unit cell.

We claim:

1. A ternary metal alloy comprising on a weight basis about 20.4 Weight percent uranium, about 31 weight percent tantalum and about 48.6 weight percent aluminum.

2. A ternary intermetallic compound corresponding to the formula UTa Al References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS l/ Mansfield 122.5 7/63 Lane et a1. 75-1225 OTHER REFERENCES CARL D. QUARFORTH, Primary Examiner.

REUBEN EPSTEIN, Examiner. 

1. A TERNARY METAL ALLOY COMPRISING ON A WEIGHT BASIS ABOUT 20.4 WEIGHT PERCENT URANIUM, ABOUT 31 WEIGHT PERCENT TANTALUM AND ABOUT 48.6 WEIGHT PERCENT ALUMINUM. 